St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-02
WHO rs BILLY KISSANE?
At San Francisco, Under Another Name,
He is Said to be Both Wealthy
and Honorsd,
Although His Alias is so Far Known t.
Only Few Intimate Ac-
quaintanoes.
At New York He is Remem bered
simply as a Forger and
Assassin,
Who Is Now Trying to Smash an In
dictment Found Thtrty-Three
Years Ago.
BILLY KIssANE'S CASE.

BILLY KIsSANE'S CASE.
Recorder SmyIh Unwilling to Enter
NOlIe PrOsequi---Am Eventful
History.
New York, April Recorder Smyth
in general sessions to-day heard argument
on the motion by Counselor j. b. Hart Of
San Francisco to have a nOlle proSeQui en-
tered in the indictment for forgery Oh file
in the district attorneys office against Will
lam Kssane, now wealthy and influential
citizen of San Francisco. The indictment
was for the forgery of check for $12, 600
in 1854 against the Chemical bank OF this
city. Counselor Jones appeared for the
bank and opposed the motion. He said
that Kissane had not made any restitution
to the bank for the money thus obtained in
a criminal manner, although it appeared
that he was well-to-dO. Lawyer Jones
submitted an affidavit made by the cashier
of the bank. which set forth that tine bank
had suffered loss of $26, $50 by Kissane'S
torgeries. District Attorney MARITIME was
present and favored Diminishing the indict-
ment, considering the length of time
elapsed and that Kissane had reformed and
was leading an honest life. Everything
considered lie was not disposed to call the
case for trial at this late day. Recorder
Smyth was not so willing to dismiss the
matter. He said that there was no evil
dence that Lawyer Hart was acting with
Kissane's consent, and intimated that he
would
REQUIRE ASSURANCES
on this point before taking action. A tee-
gram from the principal in the case would
not be sufficient The parties then left
court. The Herald this morning prints the
following III regard to the wonderful life of
''Billy" Kissane: Kissane is we'll known
to most prominent Californians. He has
for years been very active in state politics.
an influential delegate to conventions and
man who was always consulted in the di-
vision of the spoils. He never himself,
however, ran for an Office that was higher
than that of county supervisor He is a
Democrat. like the men whom he has Sc
lected to serve as his counsel. Senator
George Hearst is all old friend of his, and
would. it is said. speak favorably of him.
knowing only the history of that part of
his life which he has passed in the golden
state. 1t is not unnteresting to know that
the attorney whom Kissane sent to this city
to make the motion before Recorder Smyth.
to dismiss the untried indictment of 1854,
was an acquaintance of the former in his
youth. but lost sight of him for fifteen years
until the moment when he again met him
in California. ''Then," said this attorney.
who is J. B. Hart. of San Francisco, II
should not have known him but for certain
circumstances. Even to day could not
take my oath that he is the same Bill Kis-
sane who in 1849 was clerk in Lott Pugh'S
great pork packing establishment in Gin
cinnati."
without betrayng your professional
trust MI. Hart. can yousgive me mere
outline of Mr. Kissane's history. aside from
what has been already published?"
Mr.. Hart belongs to the typical class of
pioneers. for it was IN 1919 that he sold out
his store in Hamilton, o., and went to Cal
ifornia. Gradually and by gentle suason
and timely indulgence the following facts
were brought out:
II suppose all must soon be known. any
how he said. "Of course / must stop at
the name. l know nothing about these
CHARGES OF CRIME.
except what have discovered by searching
the legal reports. kissane, as L have init
mated, was known to me in Cincinnati when
kept store in Eagltton. The second shows
in the burning of the steamer Martha Wash
ington on the Mississippi river, together with
Cummings, Duane and others. He was tried
at Cincinnati, in the United States court, be-
lore Judge Mcl1edil, on an Indictment Tor at
tempting to swindle insurance companies.
The investigation was very exhaustive and
he was acquitted. Subsequently the judicial
authorities of Helena, Ark, near which place
the contiagratiop. occurred, obtained the GUS
tody of his body and tried him for murder,
one person having lost his life on the steamer
He was again acquitted. / have the history
of both cases. The first you eau find in the
| fifth volume of .McLean's reports. In 1854
the forgeries were committed which caused
a loss of $4,000 to the Chemical bank. In
November he was indicted. You already
| know enough of that history. There is no
disposition to deny his guilt in connection
| with those cases. He will only say that he
| has outlived it. l went to California in 1S49.
| In 1857 l met Kissane out there
under the name which he now
| bears. 1 subsequently learned that
his venture in the state was tie keeping of
| store in Sacramento. Probably he made a
| little money at that for afterward he engaged
in mining at Gold Hill, New, with a partner,
| and together they achieved great success.
| In Il few years Kissane had amassed between
S200,O00 and S300,000. Kssane bears his Is
years well and is regarded by nearly all of his
| neighbors as man of the very highest char
| acter. Mr. Hart
DENOUNCED THE MOTIVE
! of both the Chemical bank officers and Gen.
| Dan as blackmai Dan had written not only
! to the authorities here, but to those at Helena
|
| make application for the eXtraditon OF Kis-
| sane. Il believe myself said Mr.. Hart
''that Dan expects to divide with the Chem
| ical bank the proceeds of this claim should
| Kissane pay it, The attorney did not deny
that his client would satisfy the demand of
the Chemical bank rather than have his
| present name and connections exposed. IF
| however, - he added, 'Dan and these people
| insist upon pressing the judicial phase of
! this matter, we shall begin criminal action
against them at once for blackmail. 1t is for
that object that Congressman Barclay Henly
has been retained. Why, sir, the attorneys
| of the Chemical bank in San Francisco wrote
| to Kissane threatening him with eXtradtion
to New York unless he paid their client the
| sum to which il laid claim. But for that we
never should have called attention to the
| slumbering Indictment.
WHO IS He?
ST., LOUIS, April IA special from San
| Francisco says concerning the Kissane SEN
SatiOn. His identity is said to be known
to several newspaper propriet0rs, and it is
alleged that an agreement has been made
not to publish the name of the suspected
man. Some of the prominent papers make
no mention Of the story at all, though the
matter is a general subject of conversation
and surprise. 1t is urged that many men
here have something in their past records
that would not bear'the light of day, and
so Kssane has right to be protected. The
assertion is made that the man is resident
| of Oakland, and well-known lawyer en-
i gagged in business here Some of his asso-
ciates have known for years that he was
living under all assumed name"